Karen Languages - Classification

Classification

Because they are linguistically conservative in many ways, Benedict (1972) removed the Karen languages from Tibeto-Burman in a Tibeto-Karen family, but this no longer seems justified.

The internal structure of the family is as follows:

• Pa’o
• Pwo (Eastern, Western, Northern, Phrae Pwo)
• Sgaw–Bghai
  • Bghai: Lahta, Padaung (Kayan), Bwe (Bghai), Geko, Geba
  • Brek (Bwe)
  • Kayah: Eastern Kayah, Western Kayah, Yintale, Manumanaw
  • Sgaw: Sgaw, Paku Karen, Mopwa

Manson (2011) classifies the Karen languages as follows. The classifications of Geker, Gekho, Kayaw, and Manu are ambiguous, as they may be either Central or Southern.

Karen

• Peripheral
  • Pa’o
  • Pwo
• Northern
  • Kayan
  • Lahta
  • Yinbaw
  • Yintale
• Central
  • Western Kayah, Eastern Kayah
  • Geba, Bwe
  • Paku (?)
  • Geker, Gekho (?; may be Central or Southern)
  • Kayaw, Manu (?; may be Central or Southern)
• Southern
  • Sgaw, Paku
  • Dermuha, Palaychi